"...and the battle's lost and won." (Macbeth)

.....The World Series which has concluded recently and won by the indomitable New York Yankees is a baseball event of breathtaking and terrifying beauty. The stadia, overrun with feverish spectators flapping white towels in unparalleled unison while howling like Banshees heralding the death of their objects of scorn, are images of fierce derision. A viewer of this occult phenomenon experiences it in mystifying, fearful wonder; and exulting over the victory of his team, wanders home after a joyous catharsis, unable to wait for the next game, addicted beyond redemption. If his team loses, he suffers then from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

.....The game overlooks a verdant green arena where baseball heroes are joining the battle, not unlike Greeks and Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae except in this juncture of history they are the Phillies and the Yankees--but no less courageous. The talents of Babe Ruth banging out a home run, Joe DiMaggio hitting in his 54th game, Jackie Robinson stealing home, Willie Mays running down a fly ball, Derek Jeter vacuuming ground balls are moving images of art no less than what may be enjoyed in dusty museums. Should the game come down to the ninth inning, tying and winning runs for the home team on second and third, two outs and two strikes on the batter, a fire ignites in the belly of a fan who identifies with the home team, and a conflagration erupts as the ball to win the game flies like a lark arising from the sullen earth singing hymns at heaven's gate----only it's foul. And now, another interminable wait for the next pitch. There is no game so thrilling and suspenseful as World Series baseball--unless, of course, it is stickball.

"Anchor's Aweigh" & "Semper Fidelis"

.....In the event everyone's forgotten, and some who never knew, there are two other veterans in this family; Jon Tessler, Rh+s son, a Navy veteran, and my daughter, Robin Higgins. Of all the veterans I know, she is my favorite; that is, Lt. Col. Robin Higgins,USMC, Ret. Also, Honorary Doctor of Letters at Oneonta University in New York. The following is an exerpt from Howard Leavitt's book "Semper Chai", which profiles many Jewish marines down through the generations:


.....On October 4, 1997, Lt. Col. Robin Higgins, USMC, christened the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76), named for her husband. During 41st President George Bush’s administration, she was appointed to the U.S. Department of Labor, where she served as deputy assistant secretary and then acting assistant secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training. While a senior executive at the Department of Labor, Lieutenant Colonel Higgins was an adviser to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans and a commissioner on the Department of Defense’s Defense Conversion Commission.
.....Moving to Florida after leaving the military, she served as Director of Public Affairs for Florida’s state comptroller, and then spent a year consulting, public speaking, and writing on a variety of topics, including media relations, public affairs, and veterans’ advocacy. In January '97, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Robin Higgins Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs- the first Jewish woman to hold that job in Florida. As the Governor’s chief advisor on veterans’ issues, she was responsible for advocacy programs for the state’s 1.7 million veterans. Then in early 2001, she was nominated by 43rd president George W. Bush to serve as the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2001, she was responsible for numerous burial benefits for the nation’s veterans and managed the National Cemetery Administration. She became the senior Jewish person ever to serve in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the senior Jewish woman in the Administration.
.....Lieutenant Colonel Higgins is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Marine Corps League’s Dickey Chapelle Award for outstanding service to Marines, the American Legion Auxiliary’s Public Spirit Award for outstanding service to country, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants Veterans Caucus Award for outstanding service to veterans.

.....Needless to say, the Baron himself is a veteran having served three years in the U.S. Navy Air Corps during WWII. He escaped many death defying events including the crash of his B24 Liberator which failed to get off the ground. But the Baron, like Superman was invulnerable. The following is the official report from Fleet Air Wing 7, VB110.

CRASH: 24 OCT 44 A/C: PB4Y-1 Location: Unknown BUNO: 32236 Cause: Navy 804;Operational mission. During take-off run and three-hundred yards from start at about ninety miles per hour indicated airspeed, the port tire blew out. Plane swerved fifteen degrees to port before pilot could correct it. Plane stayed on runway for about one-hundred-seventy-five yards, then ran off into grass, port wheel hit runway light and a one and half foot hole two feet square thirty five yards further at fifty miles per hour. Port gear was sheared off and plane skidded to a stop. "Strike" Crew Ok:

.....Congratulations to all veterans today, and I'm also happy that I'm a veteran; the alternative is unacceptable.

"...we few, we happy few...." (Henry V)

.....Veterans' Day comes tomorrow, Nov. 11; at one time it was called "Armistice Day" to celebrate the end of WWI where my father, before me, won a Purple Heart. But now, I'm reminded of another war, and this blog is paying homage to the courageous veterans of the Battle of Agincourt in Northern France in 1415 on St. Crispins Day. St. Crispin and Crispinian were leather workers and shoemakers who were tortured and beheaded by Romans for the twins' celebration of Catholicism. (The bikers' culture of today, wearing leather all the time would do well to accept these martyrs as their patron saints.) St. Crispin was made famous by Henry V's speech to his army, and immortalised by Shakespeare. England celebrates St. Crispin's day, on October 25th, the day Henry battled the French who vastly outnumbered the English forces.

.....I have always been fascinated by the similarities between St. Crispin's Day and D-Day. Our forces were also outnumbered on that fateful day, but not less fearless; and also led by-- though not a king,--a great General. Henry's speech to his army inspired his troops with references to the times that they, themselves, would become veterans and remembered if they fought the good battle with courage, determination, and brotherhood.....and is this different from our own veterans' battles of D-Day, or Vietnam, or Iraq and Afghanistan? Shakespeare carried the spirit of victory in his historical play, Henry V. Is it just coincidence that there is a "V" following his name?

by William Shakespeare (Henry V)

"This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on this vigil, feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-.....
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day"

.....Now, what warrior would not rush into the lion's mouth after hearing these words? Veterans will always remember the battles they've been in, even though these battles will become dim in the memories of those who weren't there. The veteran's memory of his battles will seem, to him, as though they were fought yesterday. As I pointed out in yesterday's blog, my aim is to define what it means to be a veteran. What follows is merely part of the definition.

.....OUR CORE VALUES -- symbolize a personal code of ethics, responsibility, and professional behavior that govern the way military men & women interact with each other. These core values are:

INTEGRITY– Honest, trustworthy and accountable, taking personal responsibility
RESPECT– Honor the dignity of others by treating all with civility
EXCELLENCE– Exceed expectations and accept accountability for operational standards
COMPASSION– Sensitive to the physical and emotional needs of all
COMMITMENT – Exceptional service through dedication, loyalty and teamwork

.....Tomorrow, I for one, will remember.